You know, it would be pretty fantastic to study the history of the world through the eyes of God. Nephi was shown the doings of the Gentiles with their nations and kingdoms, their building of a church, and their desire for praise from the world (1-9). He saw how the Gentiles were separated from his brothers' descendants by the ocean (10-12). Then he noticed that the Spirit of God working with the children of men to bring them to the land of promise causing his brothers' seed to be scattered and smitten (13-14). The Spirit of the Lord was with the Gentiles and they prospered and gained the land for their inheritance and were humble before God (15-16). But then their "mother Gentiles", their mother nations, came to battle against them (17). However, they had the power of God with them and they were delivered out of the hands of all other nations (18-19).That was basically the history of the discovery of America and the creation of the United States of America. President Joseph F. Smith has said:
This great American nation the Almighty raised up by the power of his omnipotent hand, that it might be possible in the latter days for the kingdom of God to be established in the earth. If the Lord had not prepared the way by laying the foundations of this glorious nation, it would have been impossible (under the stringent laws and bigotry of the monarchical governments of the world) to have laid the foundations for the coming of his great kingdom. The Lord has done this (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 409).Thus, it is fitting that the next part of the chapter is about the restoration of the gospel through the coming of The Book of Mormon.
Nephi then saw a book among the Gentiles and learned that it was the Bible which came from the Jews in purity which was then edited, taking out many parts of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel as well as many covenants so that the children of God would be blinded and hardened (20-29). It is then explained he just saw the Gentiles being lifted from captivity, lifted by the power of God above all other nations, on a land that is choice above all other lands and the he has also seen that God will not allow the Gentiles to totally destroy his brothers', and partly his own, descendants (30-31). But it is also true that God will not allow the Gentiles to always be blind to the fullness and truthfulness of the gospel (32-34). For Nephi's descendants will write what the Lord ministers unto them and they'll be hidden until they are brought forth through the Gentiles by the gift and power of the Lamb (35). Those records will contain the gospel of Jesus Christ (36). Then the people in those days who seek to bring forth Jesus Christ's Zion will be blessed, for they will have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, and if they persevere they'll be lifted up and saved (37). Then the Bible will also be given to his brothers' descendants (38). After the Bible was given to them, other books would come forth by the power of God through the Gentiles to convince the Gentiles, his brothers' descendants, and the Jews who are scattered across the earth that the records of the prophets and the 12 apostles are true (39). The last book will support the first (the Bible) and make know all the plain and precious things to the whole world testifying that the Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior and through Him we will be saved (40). The way to salvation comes through the way God has informed us through the Bible and the Book of Mormon (41). Then Jesus Christ will make himself known to everyone (42).President James E. Faust explained why the standard works – the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price – were each important to the restoration of Jesus Christ's Church:
“The Apostle John saw in vision the time when an angel would come to the earth as part of the Restoration of the gospel. That angel was Moroni, who appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith. He directed Joseph to the place where golden plates containing ancient writings were deposited. Joseph Smith then translated these plates by the gift and power of God, and the Book of Mormon was published. This is a record of two groups of people who lived centuries ago on the American continent. Little was known about them before the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. But more importantly, the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ. It restored precious truths concerning the Fall, the Atonement, the Resurrection, and life after death.
"Prior to the Restoration, the heavens had been closed for centuries. But with prophets and apostles upon the earth once more, the heavens were opened once again with visions and revelations. Many of the revelations that came to the Prophet Joseph Smith were written down in a book that came to be known as the Doctrine and Covenants. This contains further insights about principles and ordinances and is a valuable source concerning the structure of the priesthood. In addition, we have another canon of scripture called the Pearl of Great Price. It contains the book of Moses, which came by revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the book of Abraham, which he translated from a purchased Egyptian scroll. From these we learn not only a great deal more about Moses, Abraham, Enoch, and other prophets but also many more details about the Creation. We learn that the gospel of Jesus Christ was taught to all of the prophets from the beginning—even from the time of Adam” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2006, 68; or Ensign, May 2006, 67–68).
That's simply amazing to me. How wonderful it is to have the word of God in our lives and easily accessible. It helps us go the right direction so that we may return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Side note: Wouldn't it be pretty fantastic to see the whole history of the world through the eyes of God? I guess we just have. In a brief way. But for Nephi this was the future. For you and I, this is merely history and current events. I suppose that's why we have living prophets today who can warn us and guide us through the perils we will come to face.
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